SMYN – an example to African stars

Talk of tabloid stories on Brazilian legend, Ronaldos endless involvement with super-models, England defender John Terrys cheating with Wayne Bridge s ex-girlfriend, the promiscuity of Wayne Rooney and several allegations about our own Peter Ndlovu are a good example of the sort of licentious scandals involving footballers that have featured on the back pages of newspapers.

Not surprisingly, the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS have in some instances been blamed on the carefree lives of these role models, whom the young generation looks up to. Technological advances in the Global Villager plus soccers own global appeal have made megastars such as Rooney or Ronaldo heroes for youngsters in far away corners of the globe who often will see nothing wrong in emulating the behaviour of their stars – both good and wayward.

Aware of the influence they wield among the youths, South African former and current players have come together to form an organisation they hope will give their fans something positive to emulate.

Social change

In Show Me Your Number (SMYN) — formed by the South African Football Players Union and which enjoys the full support of both the local Premier Soccer League and the South African Football Association (SAFA) – players and administrators want to use the respect and hero status of footballers in their communities to promote positive social change.

Through life skills training, the players become positive agents for change in the fight against HIV/AIDS by discussing issues of prevention, stigma and discrimination in communities, says player manager, Mabalane Mfundisi, who is also the organisations executive director.

Using football as a tool for social development, SMYN simultaneously enhances a positive public image of football and promotes the South African National Strategic Plan objective to reduce HIV infections by 50 per cent by 2011, in a country and region that is among the hardest hit by the AIDS scourge and draws people from all around the continent to its shores.

Aaron Mokoena, the first ever captain of an African FIFA World Cup-hosting nation, is among members of the organisation, alongside SAFA president Kirsten Nematandani.

Zimbabwe s Edelbert Dinha is also among former soccer players involved in the campaign, alongside South African players like Fabian McCarthy, and former Orlando Pirates captain, Ronnie Zondi, most of whom are now popular in Zimbabwe, where the South African league is watched on free-to-air satellite channels.

Addressing a meeting hosted by UNAIDS to discuss the role of sport for Global Advocacy held in Geneva, Switzerland, Nematandani said: African players know about HIV and AIDS, hunger, poverty, ill-health, political strife and tension.

Players duty

African players are familiar with Afro-pessimism therefore African players are duty bound to be in the forefront of confronting these challenges that face the continent through using their hero status to make a positive contribution We see Show Me Your Number as a sharp end of the spear through which we will pierce into the conscience of society and address issues like regular testing for HIV and AIDS, TB and STIs, fighting to eradicate stigma and behaviour change.

South African Football Players Union deputy general secretary Thulaganyo Gaoshubelwe told the conference that football and its stars were a powerful tool that could be used to promote social change.

He said: The players, with training and guidance are powerful tools who need to be supported in their own endeavours to change the world and make it a better place. As players, we entertain the people, and through our actions we create a better world. We fight against HIV and AIDS, we advocate for peace, we make dreams a reality. In addition to using popular soccer stars as spokespeople and campaigners against HIV/AIDS, the SMYN programme also uses soccer matches to distribute condoms and information on how to practice safe sex.

For example, when South Africas Banyana Banyana womens side played Zimbabwes Mighty Warriors at Thembisa near Johannesburg, SMYN distributed information packs and about 2000 condoms to fans at the stadium – it is yet another anti-HIV/AIDS strategy that Zimbabwe could do well to copy.